For professionals
When a bird comes in, find its owner in minutes.
Verified vets, rescues, shelters, wildlife carers and councils can look up any band or microchip registered on BIRD and reach the owner. It’s free, and access is checked by hand.
Who can apply
For anyone who takes in birds
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Vets and clinic staff
Veterinarians, vet nurses and practice staff
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Rescues
Bird and animal rescue organisations
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Shelters and pounds
Animal shelters and council pounds
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Wildlife carers
Licensed wildlife rescue groups and carers
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Councils and government
Animal management and compliance officers
What you can do
Look up, check, and reach the owner
- 01
Look up a band or microchip
Search any registered band or microchip number exactly, or search part of a worn band when you can only read some of it.
- 02
See if it’s lost or stolen
Every result shows whether the bird is reported missing, so a stolen bird is flagged the moment it walks in.
- 03
Reach the owner
Message the owner through BIRD, or see the contact details they’ve chosen to share with professionals.
- 04
Report a bird in your care
When a lookup finds the bird, let its owner know it’s with you. BIRD alerts them, and you can message each other through BIRD.
Trust, both ways
Owners trust BIRD because access is earned.
A registry of valuable birds could help a thief as easily as an owner. That’s why professional access is checked, logged and limited, and why owners decide which of their details professionals can see.
- Every organisation is checked by hand before it’s given access
- Two-step sign-in for every professional account
- A reason recorded for every search, and every search logged
- Owners can see when their bird’s record was looked up, and by which organisation
- Hourly limits on searches, with tighter limits on partial searches
Applying
Create a free BIRD account, then apply for professional access. Give us as much detail as you can, because we check it: your organisation’s name, ABN, street address and phone number, and your registration or licence number (for example, your veterinary registration or wildlife licence). We may call the organisation to confirm.
Once you’re approved, you’ll set up two-step sign-in, and you’re ready to search. If several people at your clinic or shelter need access, each applies with their own account under the same organisation.
Common questions
Does it cost anything?
No. Professional access is free, and always will be.
What if a bird’s band or chip isn’t on BIRD?
Report it with the found-bird helper, as any finder would. If its owner registers later, or reports it lost, BIRD matches it. Microchips may also be on a national pet microchip registry, so it’s worth checking those too.
What happens if a bird is flagged as stolen?
You’ll see a clear notice. Keep the bird safe, don’t confront anyone, and contact police if you’re concerned. Let the owner know the bird is with you from the search result: BIRD alerts them and our team.
Why do I need to give a reason for each search?
So that every look at an owner’s record has a purpose on file. It takes one click, and it’s what lets owners trust professionals with their details.
Can our clinic become a BIRD partner vet?
We’re setting up a list of partner vets who accept found birds at no cost to the finder, shown to finders by location. Register your interest.
Free for professionals
Help the birds in your care get home.
Applications are checked by hand, usually within a few working days.